Strawberry plant named ‘San Juan’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘San Juan’. The variety is similar to the varieties ‘Commander’ and ‘Lido’. The variety is distinguished from ‘Commander’ and ‘Lido’, in particular, by its globose to flat globose habit, medium to strong interveinal blistering, weak to medium weak leaf glossiness, medium dense stipule pubescence, larger calyx diameter relative to the corolla, conical to almost cylindrical fruit, moderate differences in shapes of primary and secondary fruits, narrow band without achenes, and fruit with firm flesh and medium acidity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘Lido’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,534) and ‘33×257’ (unpatented variety) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered as a seedling in a controlled breeding plot at Monterey County, Calif. in May, 1996. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons at McArthur, Shasta County, Calif. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Monterey County, Calif., where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘San Juan’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing in the Monterey Bay area, California for three years. This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘San Juan’. The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1-6.

The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘San Juan’ from those known to us are ‘Commander’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,024) and ‘Lido’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,534). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘Commander’ and ‘Lido’. The new variety has a globose to flat globose habit, medium to strong interveinal blistering, weak to medium weak leaf glossiness, medium dense stipule pubescence, a larger calyx diameter relative to the corolla, conical to almost cylindrical fruit, moderate differences in shapes of primary and secondary fruits, a narrow band without achenes, and fruit with firm flesh and medium acidity. Plants of 33×257 were lighter green and more vigorous than those of ‘San Juan’. Fruit size and flavor were inferior to the ‘San Juan’ variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up photo of the whole plant.

FIG. 2 shows the whole plant.

FIG. 3 shows the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 4 shows the upper side and the under side of the flowers.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up of the fruit.

FIG. 6 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants and fruit grown in Monterey County, Calif., U.S.A. Observations of ‘San Juan’, ‘Commander’ and ‘Lido’ were taken in side by side comparison in 1999. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are described and the most similar color designations are provided from The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

PROPAGATION

The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons. Although propagation by stolons is presently preferred, other known methods of propagating strawberry plants may be employed.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW VARIETY

Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2 and 3. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The petal color of ‘San Juan’ is white, 155C in the R.H.S. Colour Chart. The fruit described is the secondary fruit on one year old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers.

Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘San Juan’ compared with characteristics of ‘Commander’ and ‘Lido’. Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘San Juan’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘Commander’ and ‘Lido’. Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses as compared to the varieties ‘Commander’ and ‘Lido’. Tables 4 and 5 provide information of the new variety's reaction to pests and diseases, respectively, compared to the varieties ‘Commander’ and ‘Lido’. Table 6 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to the varieties ‘Commander’ and ‘Lido’.

The leaf margin is crenate. The leaf texture is blistered and the leaf shape is rounded. The mid vein color on the terminal leaflet is RHS 151B. Leaf venation is pinate.

The average petiole diameter is 0.4 cm. The average length of the petiole on the terminal leaflet is 1.3 cm.

Petal shape is ovate to rounded. The petal margin is entire. The petal texture is smooth to slightly crinkled. The shape of the petal apex is rounded and the petal base is obtuse. The average number of petals per flower is 6.4.

The average length of the sepal is 1.17 cm. The average width of the sepal is 0.63 cm. The average number of sepals is 12.7. The color of the upper side of the sepal is dark green (138A) and the color of the lower side of the sepal is medium green (138B).

The achene color is green-yellow to grayed red (150B to 180A). The average number of achenes per berry is 359.

The average number of stolons per plant is 16. Stolons are tapered with an average diameter of 3 mm near the point of origination (at the mother plant), which average diameter gradually increases to 5 mm near the point of termination (at the daughter plant).

The anthocyanin pigmentation of various plant organs is red to purple in color.

The texture of the flesh is firm melting.

The initial bloom on the ‘San Juan’ variety occurs in early-March to mid-April in the vicinity of Watsonville, Calif. and continues until late fall.

TABLE 1 DETAILED COMPARISON of ‘SAN JUAN’, ‘COMMANDER’, AND ‘LIDO’ San Juan Commander Lido Plant Characteristics Height of Plant (cm) 28.0 24.1 26.4 Spread of Plant (cm) 47.1 46.8 43.9 Number of Crowns 4.6 3.9 2.6 Leaf Characteristics Terminal Leaflet Width 7.6 7.1 7.9 (cm) Terminal Leaflet Length 8.0 7.7 7.4 (cm) Terminal Leaflet 1.05 1.09 0.93 Length/Width Ratio Number of Teeth/Terminal 22.3 17.2 20.2 Leaflet Color of upper side of leaf Medium to Medium Medium to dark green dark green 147A green 147A 147A Color of under side of leaf Light Light Light green green green 147C 147C 147C Petiole Length (cm) 23.8 22.1 19.4 Petiole color yellow yellow yellow green green green 149A 149A 149A Bract Frequency 58% 17% 58% Single or Single only Single or paired paired, typically single Stipule Length (cm) 3.4 3.2 2.9 Stipule Width (cm) 1.0 0.9 0.9 Flower Characteristics Petal Width (cm) 1.42 1.34 1.28 Petal Length (cm) 1.30 1.27 1.08 Petal Length/Width 0.92 0.94 0.84 Ratio Flower Diameter (cm) 3.3 3.2 2.8 Calyx Diameter (cm) 3.9 3.9 3.1 Fruit Characteristics Fruit Width (cm) 4.1 4.5 4.8 Fruit Length (cm) 4.6 4.7 4.3 Fruit Length/Width 1.13 1.04 0.91 Ratio Average Berry Size (g) 27.5 24.5 23.8 Fruit Skin Color Dark Red Orange Orange 53B red Red 45A 46A Fruit Flesh Color Red Light red Pale rose 44A to orange 41B & and red white white 41A & 155A white Total Yield (g/plant) 1,212 1,399 671

TABLE 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF ‘SAN JUAN’, ‘COMMANDER’, AND ‘LIDO’ San Juan Commander Lido Plant Habit globose to flat globose globose flat globose Density medium medium open Vigor medium medium weak Leaf Shape in flat to slightly concave cross slightly concave section convex Interveinal medium to weak medium blistering strong Glossiness weak to medium weak medium weak weak Number of sometimes 3 only 3 only leaflets more than 3 (approx. 17% of leaves) Terminal revolute to flat flat leaflet flat margin profile Terminal obtuse to rounded obtuse leaflet rounded shape of base Terminal rounded obtuse rounded leaflet shape of teeth Stipule medium dense medium sparse to pubescence medium Petiole medium medium sparse to pubescence medium Petiole outward to outward outward to pose of downward upward hairs Stolon Number 16 — — Anthocyanin strong — — coloration Thickness 3-5 mm — — Pubescence medium — — Inflorescence Position beneath to level with to level with to relative to level with above above foliage Diameter of larger same size to same size calyx larger relative to corolla Diameter of same size same size larger inner calyx relative to outer Spacing of overlapping overlapping overlapping petals Fruiting Truss Attitude at prostrate prostrate erect to semi- first erect picking Length medium medium short to medium Fruit Predominant conical to conical to bi- cordate shape almost conical cylindrical Difference moderate slight moderate to in shapes marked between primary and secondary fruits Band narrow narrow to very narrow without medium achenes Unevenness medium weak medium of surface Evenness of even slightly even color uneven Glossiness very strong strong very strong Insertion level with level with below to level of achenes surface surface with surface Insertion level level in a basin of calyx Pose of the spreading to spreading spreading to calyx reflexed reflexed segments Size of same size same size smaller calyx in relation to fruit Adherence of strong strong strong calyx Firmness of firm medium medium firm flesh Evenness of slightly slightly uneven slightly uneven flesh color uneven to even Distribution marginal and marginal and only marginal of flesh central central to marginal and color central Hollow medium medium absent center size Sweetness medium to medium to strong strong strong Texture when medium medium medium tasted Acidity medium weak to medium weak Time of medium to late early to medium early to medium Flowering Harvest week ending May week ending week ending Interval 1, 1999 to week April 17, 1999 April 24, 1999 ending October to week ending to week ending 30, 1999 October 30, 1999 October 30, 1999 Time of partially partially partially Bearing everbearing everbearing everbearing

REACTION TO STRESS

TABLE 3 San Juan Commander Lido Reaction to Stress high pH Moderately Moderately Moderately Resistant Resistant Resistant high soil salt Moderately Moderately Moderately levels Resistant Resistant Resistant

PEST AND DISEASE RESISTANCE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY

TABLE 4 San Juan Commander Lido Reaction to Pests Tetranychus moderately moderately susceptible urticae susceptible susceptible Aphis spp. susceptible susceptible susceptible Lygus hesperus susceptible susceptible susceptible

TABLE 5 ‘San Juan’ ‘Commander’ ‘Lido’ Reaction to Diseases Botrytis fruit susceptible susceptible moderately rot resistant Powdery mildew moderately — — susceptible Verticillium susceptible susceptible susceptible wilt Strawberry moderately moderately moderately Mottle Virus resistant resistant resistant Xanthomonas moderately moderately moderately fragariae susceptible susceptible susceptible

ISOZYME ANALYSIS

In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘San Juan’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from some other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘San Juan’, ‘Commander’, and ‘Lido’ were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (PGI), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and phosphoglucomutase (PGM). See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the three varieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the banding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article.

TABLE 6 ISOZYME ANALYSIS FOR ‘SAN JUAN’, ‘COMMANDER’, AND ‘LIDO’ Locus San Juan Commander Lido PGI A2 A4 A3 LAP B3 B3 B3 PGM C4 C4 C2 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, substantially as shown and described. 